According to the Chinese calendar, the seventh month of every year marks the time when the restless spirits of the dead break free from the gates of hell to mix among the mortals. During this time, specific rules must be followed to avoid falling prey to the spirits of the damned. When a solitude- seeking housekeeper arrives at the desert home of a superstitious Chinese woman and her devoutly religious aunt, Death senses an opportunity to extend its grip into the mortal realm.